Sealed capsule



May 31, 1932.

A. COLTON SEALED CAPSULE Filed May 13, 1929 E INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE ARTHUR GOLTON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

PARKE, DAVIS & (30., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN SEALED carsnm Application filed Kay 13, 1929. Serial No. 882,554.

The present invention relates to capsules for containin measured quantities of materials such as ugs or other medioaments, including liquids, such as oils.

Heretofore, in enclosing dry materials in the ordinary two-part capsule, there has always been resent the possibility and often the probability that the two parts, i. e., the cap and body, may become disengaged and the contents lost. Also, the many attempts to retain liquid material in the ordinary twopart capsule have been without success due to several causes. If the liquid be placed in the capsule without sealing in some manner, the liquid may creep between the two parts and be lost.

Many attempts at sealing have been resorted to, one such being the moistening of the body before applying the 'cap. This method is unsuccessful due to the shrinkage of the body awa from the cap.

Among the ol ijects of the present invention is to obviate all of these difliculties and provide the ordinary hardened gelatin capsule with an effective seal and thereby revent losses of contents whether liqui or solid.

Another object is to provide a means of identification of the sealed in contents of such capsules.

Still other objects will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying P drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the sealed capsule,- and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough.

In the drawings the capsule is shown as consisting of the ordinary form of gelatin container comprising a body portion 10 with a cap 11 telescoped over the open end of the body.

.At the edge of the cap portion it is proposed to apply a sealing medium which will extend around the capsule and seal the edge of the cap to the body. Such a sealing medium or band is indicated at 12. The sealing medium will preferably consist of a material of substantially the same solubility as the material of the capsule and will preferably con-v sist of a solution of gelatin of about the same consistency as that used in making the capsule. In applying the sealing medium to the capsule the cap will, of course, be placed on the body after the contents have been put therein, and the capped container will be preferably held between suitable holding means at its ends. The capsule may then be rotated in front of a suitable source of supply of the sealing medium and a small band of the liquid material applied thereto. The sealing medium may be conveyed to the capsule in any suitable way as by means of a brush or by a suitable nozzle.

In any event, after the application to the capsule of a small band of the liquid sealing medium, the capsule is then subjected to a drying operation to dry the sealing material, leaving the capsule tightly sealed against loss of contents or access thereto of moisture or other outside influences.

Preferably the sealing medium is of substantially the same material as used in making the capsule and as this medium is not entirely inert to the gelatin forming the capsule, the application to the capsule of the liquid sealing medium results in a union of the sealing material with the material of the capsule rather than a mere adhesion thereto. In other words, the sealing material apparently welds itself to the material of the capsule so as to produce a substantially inseparable joint at their plane of contact.

It is also proposed to use other sealing media of substantially the same solubility as the capsule material and an example of such material is agar.

It is also proposed to use different colors of sealing material so as to furnish a visible indication of the identity or general character of the contents and this is believed to be a novel feature in itself.-

Now, having described the invention and the preferred form of embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the said invention is to be limited, not to the specific details herein described and illustrated, but only by the scope of the claims which follow:

I claim I 1. As a new article of manufacture, a

hardened gelatin capsule comprising telescopica-lly engaged body and cap portions, each of uniform diameter throughout its length with oppositely disposed convex rounded ends and a circular band of hardened gelatin of substantially the same solubility as said capsule gelatin, said band being integrally united to both said body and cap and enveloping the annular edge of said cap.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a hardened gelatin capsule comprising telescopically engaged body and cap portions, each of uniform diameter throughout its length with oppositely disposed convex rounded ends and a circular band of hardened gelatin of substantially the same solubility as said capsule gelatin, said band being integrally united to both said body and cap and enveloping the annular edge of said cap, said band having incorporated therein means for imparting a color contrasting to the color of said body and cap.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a hardened gelatin capsule comprising telescopically engaged body and cap portions, each of uniform diameter throughout its length With oppositely disposed convex rounded ends and a circular soluble sealing band integrally united to both said body and cap and enveloping the annular edge of said cap.

ARTHUR COLTON. 

